"Ah, here we are," said Canaris joyfully, turning down a dark, dirty passage, so narrow that the three could barely walk abreast. "In three minutes we shall reach the wall." Three minutes is not a long time, but it is long enough for many things to happen. They had traversed half the length of the street when Guy, moved by one of those sudden, unexplainable impulses, turned his head. Ten yards behind, crawling with soft and stealthy tread, was a grim, half naked Somali. How long he had been following in their track it was impossible to tell. But there he was, a stern Nemesis, the moonlight shining on spear and shield, and glowing on the dark, villainous features. Guy and Canaris wheeled round and stood with drawn revolvers. The Somali clutched his spear and drew up his shield. The silence remained unbroken. One single cry and a mad horde would rush forth like bees from a hive. The Somali made one step backward, then another, and then, opening his mouth, he gave a yell that was caught up in horrible echoes till the street fairly rang. "Malediction!" cried Canaris, in uncontrollable fury, "that's your last shout," and, taking quick aim, he pulled his revolver on the shouting Somali. A stunning report, a hollow groan, and down came the savage all in a heap, while the heavy shield bounded with a clatter over the stones. CHAPTER XIV. OVER THE WALLS. The crack of the revolver, following closely on the Somali's loud yell, had barely died away in echoes when the dark street seemed fairly to burst into life. The fugitives did not wait to see the result of the shot, but as they dashed madly forward they heard the people calling wildly to one another as they hurried from their dwellings. Even Melton kept up with wonderful endurance. The excitement had given him false strength, and he kept even pace with Guy and Canaris. Close at hand was the termination of the street, and as they were within ten yards of it a big Somali suddenly leaped out and barred the way. The fugitives were going at a rate of speed which it was simply impossible to check. Canaris was a foot in advance, and in an instant more he would have impaled himself on the savage's outpointed spear. It was too late to use the revolver which he still carried in his hand, but quick as a flash he hurled it with all his might, and with such correct aim that it landed plump on the fellow's head with an ugly crack. The Somali howled with agony, letting the spear drop from his nerveless hands, and just as it clattered to the ground Canaris was upon him with a rush, and down they went together, the Somali undermost. Canaris was up in a trice, and Guy and Melton, bounding on behind, trampled the half unconscious savage under their feet. "Go on," said Guy fiercely. "We will outwit them yet. Brace up, Melton; we'll soon be out of this hole." Forbes gritted his teeth to suppress a cry of pain. "I can't keep up much longer," he said. "I'll faint from loss of blood."